Maine Acoustic Festival 2018

Welcome to all MAF participants!

This year we'll focus on worksongs old and new. And since it is the Maine acoustic festival we'll focus on worksongs from here in the Pine Tree State. Two old, two new. And one bonus if we can get to it.

Have a listen (over and over!) to try to get these songs into your head before we start. Try to work out what the different voices are doing for melody and harmony. If you memorize the lyrics you'll be way ahead. Everyone will get a solo line or two, so be thinking about which "call" lines you want as your own.

You will end up singing most of the parts during the course of the weekend so it's important that everyone listen hard to each of the melody and harmony lines to understand how the songs work.

This song comes from Stan Hugill and his days aboard tall ships during the final days of the age of sail, but has been heavily folk-processed by me. I added the guitar part to help you get an idea of the chord progression we'll be using.

Oh, way high ya, and up she risesRoll Boys! Roll boys roll!Way high ya, and the blocks is different sizesWay high, Sally Brown!

Oh, one more pull, don't ya hear the captain calling?Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!Oh, one more pull, that's the end of all the haulingWay high, Sally Brown!

Song 2: Fox in the NightOriginal, by Elsie Gawler(Recording to come)

Everyone sings text in bold.Non-bold text gets improvised after the first few verses

Follow, follow that fox in the nightFollow, sure do you rightAnd we'll run run run til the morning lightAnd we'll run run run til the morning lightAnd we'll run run run til the morning lightAnd we'll run run run til the morning light

Song 3: Sing RoundAs sung by John Gawler

This classic woods song was discovered by Greg Boardman in the great book "The Maine Woods Songster", collected by Phillips Barry. It has been folk-processed by John Gawler.

When we go into the woodsSing round brave boys,Sing round brave boysWhen we go into the woodsJolly brave boys are weAnd when we go into the woodsWe're looking for the timber that what's good

And when the choppers begin to chopSing round brave galsSing round brave galsWhen the choppers begin to chopJolly brave gals are weAnd when the choppers begin to chopThey'll take the sound and they'll leave the rot

And when the swampers start to clearThey'll show the teamsters where to clear

And when we've got them on the sledThe oxen the pulls the logs ahead

When we get them to the streamWe'll knock out the fid and we'll roll them in

Now when we drive them to the millWe'll call for apple cider and we'll drink our fill

Now when at last we get our payThe merchant takes us by the hand, says here are the goods at your command

Song 4: Empathize StrategizeOriginal, written by Bennett Konesni

I was inspired recently to write a song for marches.The idea is that the caller will insert various words that end in -ize throughout the song, especially in the B section.

If we have time I'd like to sing this great song by one of the great families of singing. Laboring songs from the english tradition, this family of shepherds has passed down songs for hundreds of years, lightly folk-processed by me.

Sweep Chimney sweep is the common cry I keep,If you can but rightly understand me.With my brush, broom and my rake, with my brush, broom and my rake,See what cleanly work I make,With my hoe, hoe, hoe and my hoeAnd it's sweep, chimney sweep for me.

Girls come unto the door I look as black as any Moor,I'm as constant and true as the dayAlthough my face is black, although my face is black,I can give as good a smack,And there's no one, no one, no one there's no oneAnd there's no one shall call me on hire.

Girls come unto the door I look jet black you can be sure,Go and fetch me something that I might swallowI can climb up to the top, I can climb up to the top,Without a ladder or a rope,And it's there you, there you, there you and there you,And it's there you will hear me halloa.

Now here I do stand with my hoe all in my handLike a soldier that's on the senteryI will work for a better sort, I will work for a better sortAnd kindly thank them for it.I will work, work, work and I'll workAnd I'll work for none but gentery.